60 hopeful artists turned up to the first event
Tonight is the final chance for up and coming Merseyside musicians to be featured on BBC Radio 1 ahead of the Big Weekender in Liverpool. Huge names will be coming to Sefton Park next month, marking the first time the event has been hosted in Liverpool.
The line-up includes the likes of Sam Fender, Tate McRae, Mumford & Sons, JADE, Tom Grennan, Confidence Man, Lola Young, AJ Tracey plus many more.
The artists will take to the stage from Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25, performing to an audience of over 100,000 music fans in the park.
Ahead of the BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekender in Sefton Park, BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Merseyside have been teaming up with iconic local venues to find the most exciting new artists from Merseyside via open mic nights.
It is specifically for musicians who haven’t been featured on the BBC Introducing show yet. All performances will be recorded by the BBC, with the best to be played on Radio 1 as part of the build-up to Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool to showcase the city’s talent.
The first event took place at The Jacaranda on Slater Street in the city centre last Sunday April 6, where 60 musicians turned up to the event.
The final open mic night will take place at Southport Connolly’s Irish Pub tonight at 6:30pm. You can register to play here but musicians have been warned that doing so doesn’t guarantee that you will play.
Names will be drawn at random on the night until slots are filled. The event is 16 plus only and anyone aged 16 or 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Those who are successful will be able to hear their music on a special one-off BBC Introducing show. It will air on both Radio 1 and Radio Merseyside on Thursday, May 22, between 8pm and 10pm with Radio 1’s Jess Iszatt and Radio Merseyside’s Dave Monks co-hosting live from the Radio Merseyside studio.
The show will celebrate the local music scene, reflecting content captured from the open mic events and featuring Merseyside talent who will be performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025.
Radio 1’s Life Hacks presenters, Lauren Layfield and Shanequa Paris and Newsbeat’s Eleanor Doyle have also hosted a series of panels in recent weeks which delve into key topics inspired by local young people, with Liverpool-based panellists and experts sharing their unique experiences and offering help, advice and insights to help young people take their next steps after school.
In May, Radio 1’s Life Hacks will dive into insightful reflections from the panels, highlighting key takeaways from their time in Liverpool. They’ll journey deeper into the topics, where audiences across the UK can participate by asking questions.
The shows will explore mastering essential life skills, building confidence, networking, alternative career paths and exploring different ways to take the next step after school. The Radio 1 Life Hacks specials will be broadcast on:
- Sunday, May 18, 4pm-6pm
- Monday, May 19, 8pm-10pm
- Tuesday, May 20, 8pm-10pm
- Wednesday, May 21, 8pm-10pm
